Jeff Beck: Photos Of The Legendary Guitarist Who Died At 78

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June 10, 2023 12:17PM EDT

Jeff Beck has passed away at the age of 78 — look back at photos of the guitarist here.

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Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck — Jeff Beck, born Geoffrey Arnold Beck, was born on 24 June 24, 1944 and gained international fame as a guitarist with groups Yardbirds, and later, his own group Beck. Largely present in the ’70s, he was known for his unique sound that took elements from rock, jazz and electronica.

He earned many career accolades throughout his life, including beig featured as one of Rolling Stone magazine’s greatest guitarists of all time, as well as “one of the most influential” in the rock genre. He also went on to earn a Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times and Best Pop Instrumental Performance once, as well as the British Academy’s Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Naturally, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not once, but twice: first as a as a member of the Yardbirds back in 1992, and then as a solo artist in 2009.

Jeff sadly passed away on Jan. 10, 2023 after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis”, his rep confirmed to press, “His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss,” the rep also said. Click through to see phtoos of Jeff through the years.

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Jeff Beck playing guitar

Jeff Beck playing guitar — Guitarist Jeff Beck initially shot to fame in the in late 70s with band Yardbird. “I like an element of chaos in music. That feeling is the best thing ever, as long as you don’t have too much of it,” Jeff once said about his choice to pursue rock music.

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Jeff Beck on stage

Jeff Beck on stage — Jeff Beck is seen rocking out in a button down cropped shirt and bell bottom jeans, both signature ’70s styles. Beck ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone list of 100 greatest guitarists.

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Jeff Beck & The Yardbirds

Jeff Beck & The Yardbirds — Jeff Beck is seen in his band The Yardbirds with Paul Samwell-Smith, Keith Relf, Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja. The group matched in beige blazers and neutral colored dark ties for a promotional photo taken in the 1970s.

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Jeff Beck posing

Jeff Beck posing — Jeff Beck poses for a regal black and white portrait. When reflecting on his time in the ’70s back in 2016, he revealed it was a tumultuous time in his life. “I was pretty down at the time, I’d lost my girl, Hendrix had come and smeared everybody across the floor… I’d fallen out with the Yardbirds,” he saif of going to play with Rod Stewart.

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Jeff Beck rocking out

Jeff Beck rocking out — Jeff Beck plays a navy blue guitar with an open blue shirt and blue jean at the Crystal Palace Garden Party. He accessorized with stone jewelry and a black manicure.

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Jeff Beck looking serious

Jeff Beck looking serious — Jeff Beck is seen in a candid black and white photo. The guitarist is largely credited for reinventing music through his work as a guitarist — as well as reinventing himself, which he said is “good to do.”

“I think it’s good to do that and it’s been easy, because if you have a massive hit, where are you going to go? You’ll make the worst step ever and slip over, but not having any big hits – and I mean giant hits – it makes it a lot easier to just jump into another genre because you’re not cheating somebody out of something they like,” he said to MusicRadar in 2016.

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Jeff Beck smiles

Jeff Beck smiles — Jeff Beck is seen thoughtfully contemplating a reporter’s question during an interview. Since the mid-60s, when he first emerged with the Yardbirds, Beck has been a hero to just about anyone who ever plugged a guitar into an amp.

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Jeff Beck dressed up

Jeff Beck dressed up — Jeff Beck is seen playing in concert at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center inYork Pennsylvania on April 25, 2015. He wore a star adorned guitar strap for the performance over a white button down and a vest.

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Jeff Beck Plays With Paul Rodgers & Ann Wilson

Jeff Beck Plays With Paul Rodgers & Ann Wilson — Jeff Beck performs in concert during the “Stars Align Tour” at the BB&T Pavilion, in Camden, N.J. He was on stage with Paul Rodgers and Ann Wilson at the show in Aug. 2018.

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Jeff Beck in sunglasses

Jeff Beck in sunglasses — Jeff Beck is seen performing during the Helsinki Blues Festival in Finland on June 19, 2022. He wore a white t-shirt under a denim vest.

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Jeff Beck on a red carpet

Jeff Beck on a red carpet — Jeff Beck is seen attending The Rolling Stones ‘Exhibitionism’ event at the Saatchi Gallery in London back in April 2016. He wore an oversized black suit and a thin silk scarf.

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Jeff Beck in a scarf

Jeff Beck in a scarf — Jeff Beck performs in concert in Brussels, Belgium on Oct. 25, 2016. “I’m an experimenter. It’s rich because every album I’ve done, except for a couple of techno-y records, are different,” Jeff said of his musical style to MusicRadar in 2016. “Really you’ve got to hand it to the Fender Strat, because there are songs in [that guitar]. It’s a tool of great inspiration and torture at the same time because it’s forever sitting there challenging you to find something else in it, but it is there if you really search.”

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Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra

Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra — Jeff Beck and wife Sandra attend the French and Saunders press night at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in London on Oct. 16, 2008. They were on hand to watch comedic double act Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders call time on their professional partnership after 30 years.

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Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp

Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp — British rock guitarist Jeff Beck performs with close pal Johnny Depp at the Helsinki Blues Festival in Finland on June 19, 2022. Johnny did a series of shoes with his friend after being found not guilty in his case with Amber Heard

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Jeff Beck performs with Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton & Bill Wyman

Jeff Beck performs with Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton & Bill Wyman — A star-studded stage. Jeff Beck is seen playing guitar with collaborators Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Bill Wyman for the ARMS charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall in Sept. 1983.

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Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page

Jeff Beck & Jimmy Page — Jimmy Page poses with Jeff Beck after presenting him with his ‘Outstanding Contribution To British Music’ Award at the 59th Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House in London in 2014. The pair both smiled as Jeff held up the award.

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Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra smile

Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra smile — Jeff Beck with wife Sandra Cash are seen at a Celebration for the life of friend Jeremy Lloyd in June 2015 at the St. James Church Piccadilly. Here they’re seen comforting Jeremy’s widow Lizzy Moberly.

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Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra posing

Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra posing — Jeff Beck and wife Sandra Cash are spotted at a private screening for ‘Churchill the Hollywood Years’ at the Soho Hotel in Nov. 2004. Jeff stayed low key in a jean jacket and hoodie as he held his wife’s hand.

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Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra Cash outside

Jeff Beck & his wife Sandra Cash outside — Jeff Beck and Sandra Cash are seen posing at their home in Sussex, UK in June 2006. The pair both smiled as they sat outside their rustic front door adorned with purple flowers.

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